Wedding Preparations

While we wait for you, Malia, we are busy with wedding preparations for your Aunt Kate and soon-to-be Uncle Don. I'm the matron-of-honor, so I get to do the bachelorette party planning and play a very supportive role for the bride. So far, we have a trail horseback ride planned followed by dinner in downtown Austin and Hot Tub/Champagne time at the downtown Sheraton. Uncle Nick is the best man and your daddy will be an usher. Aunt Rocka will be the signer-inner, big brother Alex & Don's nephew, Gerrick, will be ring bearers, and Brooke will be the flower girl. I hope you get to be a flower girl for your Uncle Gavin's wedding...when he gets married one day! I know you will be a beautiful flower girl. I'm attaching a picture of the ceremony and reception site taken of another wedding held there.
Vintage Villas

New Year's Eve

Allyson and Mike had a New Year's Eve dinner party. All the kids were invited too. They are thinking of making this a tradition. So Malia, you'll be coming to these parties too. Here are some pictures...

Kate and Don just got engaged

My sister, Kate, and her now fiance, Don, just got engaged. Don proposed while they were on vacation in San Fransisco. They will be getting married over Memorial Day weekend. We are so excited!!! I will be Matron-of-Honor and Alex will be one of the ring bearers. Gerrick will be the other ring bearer.

Still Waiting

Referrals were just received for those families whose dossiers were logged in on February 28, 2006. Referrals were very slow this past year, but China had quite a year with the Olympics, earthquake, tainted milk (melamine), etc. We are hopeful that the worst is behind them and we will be getting our referral for Malia in two years.

2008 Olympics

"One World, One Dream", magnificent Opening Ceremony, the Bird’s Nest, more than 30 world records and 50 Olympic records broken, about 4.7 billion TV viewers worldwide – a new record for the Olympics...

Earthquake

Key Words: 8.0-magnitude, Sichuan Province May 12, more than 69,000 people dead, 374,000 injured, 18,000 missing and millions homeless, 31,000 aftershocks reported since then...

Snow Storm

The worst snowstorm in 50 years hit China in January, 129 people dead, widespread power failure, transportation chaos, crop damage, $21 billion in economic losses...

Tainted Milk

Sanlu milk powder was found contaminated with melamine in September, 22 diary companies were reported to have produced tainted dairy products, 6 babies dead, 294,000 suffering from urinary problems, 8,311.7 tons of unqualified milk products were withdrawn from market...

Shenzhou VII

Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang conducted a space walk on September 27, China's first extravehicular activity in space, the third country to conduct a spacewalk after Russia and the US...

30th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up

The Reform and Opening Up in China started in December 1978, the theory brought forward by Deng Xiaoping, China is now the world's 4th largest economy...

Piano lesson

Alex is taking piano lessons at school. His GG (Frances) has been a piano teacher all of her life. She's giving Alex some piano instructions in the picture.

Christmas Tree Farm with Kate/Don/Gerrick & Dianne/Marc/Alex

We went to Elgin last weekend to help Kate & Don find a Christmas tree. They had hay rides, horses and pigs. During the hay ride, Alex told everyone how much fun he was having. After picking out the perfect tree, we went to a local bbq joint for lunch and had ice cream for dessert. Yummm.


Hay ride

Dianne & Alex pet a nice horse.

Marc and Don secure the Christmas tree to Kate's car.


Gerrick gave Alex some pointers on eating ice cream and hamming it up for the camera.

Wurstfest

We enjoyed another fun day at Wurstfest last week. Wurstfest is Oktoberfest, Texas Style! Alex loved the kiddie rides and we all partook of the German music and food.

Alex takes charge of his own sport stroller.

Uncle Nick, Aunt Kate and Don enjoy some beer and sausage while listening to the German band.


Wurstfest music is everywhere.


Wurstfest grounds


The Wurst Halle